Legal Definitions - seabed

The seabed refers to the solid ground or floor that lies beneath the ocean's waters. It is the submerged landmass that forms the bottom of seas and oceans, extending from the coastline out into the deepest parts of the ocean basins.

Legally, nations can claim rights and control over the seabed, particularly the areas directly beneath their territorial waters and often extending into their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). This sovereignty allows them to manage resources, regulate activities, and protect the environment of these underwater territories.

• Example 1: Resource Exploration

  A country's energy company discovers a significant natural gas deposit located deep beneath the ocean surface, within the nation's legally defined Exclusive Economic Zone. The country asserts its sovereign rights over this particular section of the seabed to authorize and regulate the drilling and extraction of the natural gas, as these resources are considered part of its national territory.

• Example 2: Underwater Infrastructure

  An international consortium plans to lay a new high-speed fiber optic cable connecting two continents. The proposed route involves burying the cable along the seabed. For the portions of the cable that will cross through the territorial waters or continental shelf of various nations, the consortium must obtain permits and approvals from each respective government, acknowledging their sovereign control over that specific underwater territory.

• Example 3: Marine Conservation

  To protect a unique ecosystem of deep-sea corals and hydrothermal vents, a nation declares a specific area off its coast as a marine protected area. This designation extends to the underlying seabed, prohibiting activities like bottom trawling or mineral extraction that could damage the delicate underwater environment. The nation exercises its jurisdiction over this part of the ocean floor to enforce conservation measures.